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Critics have complained that the film distorts historical facts and is disrespectful to the queen, writes the Hindustan Times .

This is despite the filmmakers and historians arguing that the figure - known as Pani Padmini or Padmavati - is a mythical character and not based on fact.

It has even resulted in a title change from 'Padmavati' to Padmaavat, and other modifications, to appease protesters by attributing the creative source as the fictional poem 16th century poem Padmaavat - and not history.

Indian police detained members of the Rajput community during a protest against forthcoming Bollywood film 'Padmavati' in Hyderabad on November 21, 2017. Indian filmmakers said they have delayed indefinitely the release of a Bollywood historical epic about a legendary Hindu queen that has been the subject of weeks of violent protests (Image: NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)

That move itself has led to criticism from others over fears of censorship and a threat to creative freedom.

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Violent protests in India have seen death threats made against Bhansali and Deepika and the vandalism of film sets.

It has been banned in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, who have now been joined by Haryana, where ministers cited the "law and order situation in the state" as motivation for the move.

A member of a caste-based group Rajput Karni Sena is detained by the police during a demonstration against the Bollywood film 'Padmavati' outside the office of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Mumbai on January 12, 2018. Caste-based groups have been staging violent demonstrations against "Padmavati" amid rumours that it will depict a romance between a Hindu queen and a Muslim ruler (Image: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Guardian reported in November that activists had even threatened to torch UK cinemas who screen the film.